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The Kaeth circle, or family, is a prominent source of leadership and direction within Scholae Palatinae and Plagueis - clans in the Dark Brotherhood.
Introduction
The Kaeth are a coven, or family of Force-users whom are dedicated to serving the will of the Dark Side of the Force. Vessels of power and knowledge, collected from a previous Master of the Dark Side, the family acts as stewards to the Force; their allegiance alone to the mystical essence of the galaxy.
Known as the Prefects of Darkness, the members of the Kaeth line can trace their connection with one another to remnants of the Adepts of Byss. Scholae Palatinae, or the Palace Guard, served as the ordained guardians and agents of the Reborn Emperor as he invoked his will upon the Living Force from his new seat of power upon Byss.
Even though Darth Sidious' rule was broken, several of his Adepts escaped destruction with the mighty Scholae Palatinae in tow. It would be through this faction, that an ancient lineage would be reborn and a new Circle of Stewards would rise. The knowledge of Kun would arise in the Clan of Sidious before branching out across the Brotherhood.
Ancient Beginnings
Dark Lord Rising
Appointed Dark Lord of the Sith by the spirit of Marka Ragnos, Exar Kun would forever break free of his Jedi teachings to create an immense army of darksiders. With his Apprentice, Ulic Qel-Droma, whom had also been appointed by Rangos, the duo began a pronged assault on the galaxy starting at Ossus. There, with the aid of an ancient Sith holocron, the Dark Lord was capable of corrupting the Jedi Knights and young padawans - converting them to the Dark Side. Under his influence, he commanded the newfound army to seek out and kill their Masters. Kun's strategy was to weaken and destabilitize the Jedi Order; crippling the Republic in the process.
It was during this time that many Force-users came to be under the banner of Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma. Most prominent amongst those whom converted, or served, were those of Brotherhood of the Sith - a group of Jedi Knights whom broke away from the Jedi Order to study Sith teachings. In addition, the mystical Order of the Krath, from the Empress Teta System, would soon work their way into the ranks of those whom served the new Dark Lord of the Sith; with them, they brought many ancient artifacts and texts from the planet of Onderon. These vessels of the Dark Side would not only bolster the ranks of Exar Kun's military might, but ensure the legacy of his Empire.
Despite his ability to manipulate his peers, claim the holocron of Odan-Urr, create the first double-bladed lightsaber and master ancient techniques of the Sith - chief amongst those techniques the legendary Sith Alchemy - Exar Kun was unable to foresee the eventual redemption of his Apprentice. During the raid on Ossus, Ulic was forced to slay his own brother Cay Qel-Droma. The shock of such an act shook the Dark Side's hold on the man and, in his momentary weakness, he was stripped of the Force permanently. Eventually, he would redeem himself by leading the Republic's forces to the planet of Yavin 4 where Exar Kun would finally be contained from the remainder of the galaxy.
Gambling, using an ancient technique, Exar Kun drained the life from the entire enslaved peoples, known as the Massassi, and drew the power in on himself. His body was lost as his power transcended the physical plain, as he sought to escape an approaching Republic Task Force sent to destroy him. Nomi Sunrider, a prominent antagonist of Exar Kun, discerned what the Dark Lord was attempting and created a Wall of Light about the planet that would forever bind him to a dark, cold temple within Yavin 4's dense jungles. Allowing him to lurk, with his power intact, for many years.
The Prefects of Darkness
Though Ulic had been anointed the Apprentice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Exar Kun had many other tools, or individuals, of the Dark Side at his disposal. By manipulating both the Brotherhood of the Sith and the Krath of the Empress Teta System, he was able to create a Legion of minions to do his bidding and execute his will. Of these, the original twenty whom formed the Brotherhood would be tasked with many important tasks.
After the initial Jedi Knights were trained upon the surface of Yavin 4 at the hands of Kun himself, they were sent out to locate and destroy their Masters. Largely, the task was successful and it sowed further distress and fear amongst those in the Jedi Order. Those whom did not succeed in their task were dismissed, slain or fearful of the new Dark Lord's wrath. For those whom found success in slaying a Master, Kun embraced as his own, indoctrinating them as his Adepts: Stewards of the Dark Lord of the Sith. They would act at his discretion, included in his council and direct pupils of his awe inspiring power and the lost techniques of the Sith.
The loss of Masters and the disarray the Jedi Order was tossed into only enabled Kun to bring more of the Order to his side in a stirring, emotional speech upon the surface of Ossus. Fearful that the Jedi Order had lost its power, or discarded powerful techniques, they sought out the Dark Lord. These new initiates would, however, need instruction and mentorship; thus, Kun tasked his most powerful Adepts to the task. Allowing them to indoctrinate the ever increasing numbers of the Brotherhood of the Sith. Kun dismissed the legitimacy of their power, knowing that he could overcome any coup that might form through the academy. Instead, he directed their training and studies to those appropriate for warriors and field commanders; as he would utilize this new force of acolytes in his ever expanding army.
However, before his dream could be realized, Ulic Qel-Droma turned against Exar Kun. The Prefects, or Chosen Stewards, could feel an enormous wave of Dark Side energy sweep over the planet, draining the life force of those unable to shield themselves. The Adepts were caught up in the ecstacy of their Master's power and were soon lost in the tide of energy expanding outward before they clashed against a mighty wall of light. The connection between Exar Kun and the Adepts was broken, allowing them their consciousness to return to their mortal bodies.
Many would be caught in a systematic search of the dense jungles; however, one would escape to the planet of Korriban to establish a new Academy. A second would shake lose of the Light Side snare and escape to a desolate planet known as Ambria where he would encounter a Gen'dai whom he would impart his knowledge on.
Parlon Kaeth
A Gen'dai named Parlon Kaeth would assume the mantle, and teachings, of the Prefects of Darkness, forging himself into a powerful Dark Side Master. As the de facto Heir of the knowledge of Exar Kun, he would become a mighty vessel of power, yet he would not seek to claim the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith as his own. Though his mentor, one of the two former Kunian Adepts, had sought to instruct him on the nature of the Force, he had never prepared his pupil what to do when he had harnessed his full potential.
For nearly a millennium, the Gen'dai would prey upon Ambria and its few scant settlers. At times he would interact with the populace, hoping a Force-sensitive individual would present themselves as a prospective pupil for his knowledge. Other days, he would scout the varying civilians before sneaking back under the veil of night to steal away people for experimental Sith Alchemy. Though his final interaction came in the twilight of his life, when he openly challenged a small encampment, slaying the entire populace: men, women and children. After this display of power, he would retreat into the wilds to prepare his knowledge for the next of his lineage - the next Steward.
Relying on tidbits of stories and remnants of what his Mentor had shared with him, Kaeth discerned that he, like his Master, would serve the ebb of the Dark Side; he would act as a steward of the terrible powers he possessed until one whom was worthy stepped forward to claim the mantle. With this task in mind, the Gen'dai used powerful nexuses of energy to craft a holocron in which he could store his infinite theories and techniques. And, for seven years, he filled the holocron with second-hand instruction from Exar Kun. Often he included his own discoveries and thoughts, in hopes of furthering the mind of a would-be Lord of the Sith or a Steward whom would serve the will of the Force.
In the final days of his life, expiring from the toll of time upon his ancient body, Kaeth would stylize a hidden chamber, with a lock requiring the touch of a darksider. In the small vault he placed his most beloved items: A robe inscribed with Sith runes, his lightsaber and the Holocron of Kaeth. Not wishing to be far from his beloved possessions, the Gen'dai meditated nearby until his presence was swept away, as it had begun, by the Force.
A Legacy Renewed
Clan Exar Kun
The spirit of Exar Kun came to four men - Khan, Jonaleth, Khaland & Vithril - aboard a small shuttle escaping from the Emperor's Hammer as they skirted by the planet of Yavin 4. The quartet were the last, powerful remnants of Clan Alvaak whom had decided to join the Brotherhood of Firefox upon Antei.
The three-demensional shadow of inky darkness coalesced into a solid form before them. Any remaining vestiges of the Light Side were burnt away, replaced with the power of Kun as he addressed those whom would serve his will. He addressed them, appointing them as his Acolytes and giving them the knowledge and power to succeed. In addition to the prestigious title of Kunar, meaning "Of Kun", he declared them Heirs to his legacy. Then, as suddenly as the power enthralled them it disappeared as the shuttle broke from the gravitational pull of Yavin 4.
Khan embraced the power that had been granted unto him, taking the trio of individuals before the Iron Throne and pleading their case. The quartet was granted the power to create a new Clan: Exar Kun. With the power bestowed upon them by the former Dark Lord, they began to shape and mold the minds of a new generation to serve their will; just as Kun had done with the Brotherhood of the Sith. Much of the powerful knowledge would be passed on by Dark Adept Jonaleth Isradia to his trusted aide, and heir, Braecen. Yet, the secrets contained in an Elders mind are known to shatter the minds of lesser Equites and such was the case when the Patriarch of the Isradias bequeathed his knowledge upon the then Krath Priest.
Unable to control the power, Braecen was driven mad. Sadly, Khan declared the man a Kunar; though, only on the basis he contained the secret knowledge. Shortly thereafter the Krath set off for Yavin 4, hoping the Spirit of Kun would come to him as it had his predecessors. Unfortunately, the spirit had been vanquished by the students of Luke Skywalker's Praxeum years earlier... leaving the Corellian to search through the rubble for answers to his questions.
A Young Man's Fate
Braecen would return to the Brotherhood a willing insturment of the Dark Side, but far from his true potential. However, under the tutelage of Jonaleth Isradia and Chi Long, the Corellian would once again find himself capable of navigating the dangerous waters of the Brotherhood politics. Quickly, he would ascend and fall several times before he would finally find peace in Clan Scholae Palatinae - another Clan with ties to a Dark Lord of the Sith.
It would be here, as a Consul, that Braecen would travel to the planet of Ambria and discover the long lost cache of goods hidden by the Gen'dai, Parlon Kaeth. It was during this quest that Braecen, personally, let go of his ties to the Clans of the Brotherhood, including his honorific Kunar, becoming the next in a line of stewards destined to assist the Dark Lord of the Sith. Eagerly, he drank in the knowledge granted to Parlon by his previous namesake Exar Kun. The power, given in measured doses by the holocron's entity, Parlon himself, instilled the Krath with the terrifying knowledge that he would serve as it's pupil for many years to come before he learned all of it's secrets. Though the knowledge would pale in comparison to the terrible knowledge of the Grand Masters of Antei.
But first, before it would grant him all of its secrets, he would have to take the oath of a Prefect of Darkness; he would become a Kaeth. Without hesitation, Braecen leapt at the opportunity to learn from a Sith Lord of Old, knowing he would be destined, or commissioned, as a Servant of Dark Lords for all eternity. For weeks the Krath communed with the holocron until it became apparent that one man would not be enough to empower a new Empire, under the Grand Masters of Antei, to bring about Order for a new Darth. Unsure of whom to trust, the newly minted Kaeth sought out trusted allies and former Apprentices... slowly increasing the numbers of the circle.
The Prefects of Darkness had risen from legend.
Fealty to One
Meticulously, the Krath would beging selecting champions for his new cause. With great trust, and faith in their ability, Braecen would invite two of his former Apprentices - Yzarc and Rilkel - to take on the mantle of Prefect. Eager for knowledge and power, not thinking of the long-term consequences, both swore to uphold the tenants of the Kaeth Line: service to the Dark Lord. Now, with the name in circulation, other Dark Jedi began to show signs of curiosity and intrigue with the Pontifex's small circle of followers. Joining in rapid succession to the Kaeth line, with invites from the trio previous, were Consul Emeritus Dakari, Quaestor of Caliburnus Rasilvenaira and Proconsul of Scholae Palatinae, Lucien.
With their ranks bolstered and power assured - branching across two Clans - the small group of practitioners traveled before the Grand Master of the Brotherhood, Darth Sarin, swearing their fealty to the Iron Throne. They presented the artifacts of Parlon Kaeth, reciting his fascinating tale to the ever attentive Dark Lord of the Sith. Sarin, his thoughts guarded, heard their plea to serve the Dark Brotherhood, but sent them away so that he could deliberate on all that he heard. Not so much as asking, but withholding the holocron, he returned the remainder of the artifacts before sending the group away. Secretly, Sarin studied the holocron throughout the night, determining that it held no new information; coming to the conclusion that his new stewards could retain the possession as they grew in maturity and power.
And so it came to be, in the year after the Incursion of the Yuuzhan Vong, the Kaeth circle was granted full rights as a Brotherhood recognized Family. And became servants of the Iron Throne - never to hold it, but always to serve.
Current members
Braecen Kaeth
Yzarc Rellik Kaeth